"They're here wid the drivers. I saw to that part of it myself." It was
the youngest of the three MacMorroghs who gave the assurance.

"So far so good," commented the chairman. "The other thing we have to
provide for, or rather, to prevent, is the possibility of Mr. Adair's
reaching here in time to join the party. The last definite information
we had of Mr. Adair he was crawling up Blue Canyon, with a train crew
which was under orders to give him ample time to study the scenery. He
has probably reached Saint's Rest before this, however, and once there,
Leckhard will give him anything in sight. The question is, will he
attempt to run the extension to-night?"

The middle MacMorrogh thought not, and his younger brother agreed with
him. But the senior partner voted aye, and stuck to it. Thereupon ensued
a conflict of opinion. Dan MacMorrogh pointed out that the construction
motive power was all at the west end, or in transit eastward; it would
be daylight of another day before an engineer familiar with the hazards
could be obtained for Adair's special over the construction line. But
Brian MacMorrogh argued with equal emphasis that this was a mere begging
of chances. Without a telegraph wire to verify the guess, no man could
say at what hour one of the trains of empties would pull through to
Saint's Rest; and whatever the hour, Leckhard would doubtless turn the
engine and crew to double back with Adair's car.

Eckstein was gripping the arms of his chair and setting his teeth deep
into his cigar while the probabilities were getting themselves threshed
out. At the end of the dispute he said quietly: "It's a hell of a pity
we can't have the use of the wire for this one night. But, gentlemen, we
can't stop for trifles. There are five of us here in this room who know
how much is at stake. One of two things is due to happen. If we can keep
Adair out of it for another twelve hours, Ford will be disgraced and
asked to resign. If he gets to that point, we're safe. I know Ford's
temper. If Mr. Colbrith puts it as he is likely to put it, Ford will say
and do things that will make it impossible for Adair or any one else to
get him back into the service."

"Thrue for you, Misther Eckstein; ye have 'im down to the crossin' of a
't'," agreed the eldest of the brothers MacMorrogh.

"That is one of the due things," Eckstein went on smoothly. "The other
isn't pretty to look at. If Adair gets here in time, it will be another
story. He can